Reflections from the “Nuclear Risks and Emerging Research” Session at Nuclear Ban Meeting

By Ruhi Kanwar, an MD candidate at Harvard Medical School, Class of 2026. She received her BS from Stanford University in 2021.

The Third Meeting of States Parties (3MSP) to the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW) was recently held at the United Nations Headquarters in New York City from March 3rd to March 7th 2025. The session featured exhibitions and various side events from participants and experts around the world ranging from topics of nuclear justice to gender and nuclear weapons. IPPNW medical students from Germany, Japan, the United States, and Zambia participated in this event. 

On Monday, March 3rd, Austria, Ireland, and Norwegian People’s Aid held a session on Nuclear Risks Research and the Nuclear Ban Monitor 2024. 

The session provided copies of the Nuclear Weapons Ban Monitor 2024 to attendees, updated as of December 31st 2024, that was to be released the following day on March 4th. The Nuclear Weapons Ban Monitor is a research project managed by Norwegian People’s Aid that tracks the progress of the TPNW across the world and analyzes challenges to highlight potential factors preventing the international community from nuclear disarmament. It has input from a wide range of experts and institutions. 

The panel started with Grethe Lauglo Østern, lead editor of this research, opening the session followed by Ambassador Alexander Kmentt, who provided key points and discussion on the Nuclear Weapons Ban Monitor. The publication contained state profiles and summary data for the 197 UN Member States that can become party to the TPNW. The discussion then moved to Hans M. Kristensen from the Federation of American Scientists, who provided data on current nuclear warheads around the world. Finally, Nick Ritchie, a professor of international security at the University of York, discussed nuclear “genocide mentality” and the 4 components that are required to perpetuate genocide. Key points from each of these panelists are subsequently provided. 

In the discussion on the Nuclear Weapons Ban Monitor, it was noted that half the world’s nations, 98 in total, have signed or ratified the TPNW The Ban Monitor notes an additional 40 states as “supportive” due to their annual UN General Assembly vote on the TPNW. These states would not need to change their national policies and practices to sign and support this treaty. Despite 70% of the world’s support of the nuclear ban, the nine nuclear armed states continue to boycott the Treaty and its proceedings. In light of this barrier, experts stated that this Treaty should be used as a normative pressure tool, with the goal being to have the 188 non-nuclear arms states become parties to the treaty, to then pressure the 9 nuclear armed states. It was also highlighted that the TPNW is following the trajectory of related disarmament      .      

The estimated number of nuclear warheads is 12,331, with an active warhead count of 9,600. The panel discussed the disproportionately large number of nuclear weapons possessed and hosted in Europe and the United States, with Russia and the US alone possessing almost 90% of the world’s nuclear weapons. Of all the deployed warheads, 45% are by the United States. Citing trends of increased nuclear secrecy, panelists highlighted that all of these are estimates and call for the need for renewed transparency among all nine nuclear armed states.      

Panelist Nick Ritchie then shifted the discussion to the components needed for “genocide mentality.” This refers to and explains for the public can be indifferent to mass genocide. The four factors discussed were dehumanization, psychotic numbing, tribalism, and victim blaming. 

Overall, as a training medical professional and member of civil society, it was a highly informative session. The session provided an overview of state party status on the TPNW as well as future goals. The release of the Nuclear Weapons Ban Monitor informed an engaging discussion and summary of the standing of views on nuclear disarmament and the latest developments. For those attending future Meetings of State Parties to the TPNW, it is encouraged that you join related sessions and engage with the Monitor’s findings.